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Questions linger after Aloha murder victim found

Investigation into grisly murder continues, suspected expected to be charged in coming days.

Washington County Sheriff's deputies have arrested a suspect in a bizarre and grisly murder in Aloha, after the dismembered body of a woman was found inside the trunk of a car last week.

The body of Sara Zghoul, 28, was found near Southwest Sarala Street and Hargis Road in Aloha on Thursday, Jan. 25.

Few details related to Zghoul's death have been released about the crime since Zghoul's body was discovered last week, but investigators say Zghoul's body was found in the trunk of a black BMW which had been parked in the area for several days.

Many questions remain about the case, including the name of the man authorities have arrested in connection to the crime. According to The Oregonian newspaper, police have arrested Jeremiah Johnston, 35, of Aloha, but authorities have yet to publicly identify the suspect.

The man is currently being treated in a local hospital for self-inflicted injuries. Washington County Sheriff's Office spokesman Jeff Talbot said the man's name will be released after he is discharged from the hospital and lodged in the Washington County Jail, but no timeline has been given for when that will occur.

The same evening her body was discovered, Jan. 25, Beaverton Police were called to the area of Southwest Murray and Teal boulevards, a few miles away, after resident Michael Larsen and his family heard sounds of screaming coming from a nearby ravine.

Larsen said he and his wife went outside to search and saw the silhouette of a man in the ravine. Michael said the person wouldn't answers questions or provide his name, but continued to scream and ask for help.

"Something just wasn't right," Larsen said. "It was very odd."

Talbot said the man was arrested in connection with Zghoul's death and was taken to a nearby hospital where he is being treated for self-inflicted injuries.

In the days following Zghoul's death, investigators have been searching the ravine the suspect was found in, and authorities have also searched the home Johnston was staying at in Aloha.

On Tuesday, Zghoul's family released a statement thanking the community for the "overwhelming show of compassion during this difficult time."

"We would like to thank our family, friends, neighbors, and the entire community as a whole for the generous outpouring of love, support and prayers sent our way," the family wrote. "We would also like to thank the detectives who are working diligently around the clock to bring us justice in this matter."

News of Zghoul's death has flown around the world, and the family said that reports in a Jordanian newspaper which claimed to be written by the family was done so without their consent.

"We ask that the public respect our wishes to grieve in peace," the family wrote. "We have lost our daughter, mother, sister, and friend; beautiful soul who will remain in our hearts forever. Please continue to keep us in your prayers. May God bless you all."